“It’s not like if she’s found guilty, it’s like. ‘OK, we tried,’” Paxton said. “It just means we’ll have to step it up. This won’t end until she’s home.”

Since the day the body of British student Meredith Kercher was found in the house she and Knox shared as exchange students in Perugia, Italy, Knox’s ordeal has been an inescapable part of Paxton’s life.

And the question of what Knox did the night of Nov. 1, 2007, hasn’t been a question at all. She’s innocent, Paxton insists. And if the Italian jury agrees, it will make her happier than she’s ever been.

“Oh, my goodness, I would just run down the streets of Seattle and hug everybody,” Paxton said. “But it’s kind of scary to really let yourself imagine too much, cause it’s easy to get your hopes up.”

Once a week for months, Paxton and a group of as many as 10 of Knox’s friends have spent the night at the home of Knox’s family. Last year, they created a Facebook group in which they posted pictures of themselves wearing T-shirts in support of their friend. Even on the days when the Italian criminal case wasn’t in the headlines, Paxton is reminded of what’s going on an ocean away.